Six affected by mobile home fire

Fire personnel from the Lemon Springs and Carolina Trace volunteer fire departments battle a mobile home fire Thursday morning at 1082 Gunter Lake Road, Sanford. No injuries were reported at the occupied home, where the blaze was reported shortly after 9:30 a.m., according to Lemon Springs Fire Capt. Derrick Wendler. According to the American Red Cross, six people were impacted by the fire, and all are being served by the organization.

SANFORD —

The American Red Cross reportedly is serving six individuals impacted by a fire Thursday morning, which completely engulfed a mobile home in Southern Lee County.

Personnel from the Lemon Springs and Carolina Trace volunteer fire departments were among the responders to the blaze at 1082 Gunter Lake Road, Sanford. There were no injuries at the occupied home, where the blaze was reported shortly after 9:30 a.m., according to Lemon Springs Fire Capt. Derrick Wendler.

Michael Tatum, fire inspector with Lee County Emergency Services, said the home was a rental property owned by Ernest Dalrymple of Sanford. Leroy McIntyre, who identified himself as a tenant, said he has lived at the residence for at least eight years. He said he was watching TV on the couch when he noticed smoke in the bedroom.

It could not be confirmed whether any other residents were in the home at the time of the fire.

Regarding where he would stay after the fire, McIntyre said, “I don’t know yet.”

Responders had the fire under control within about 10 minutes, Wendler said — classifying the home as a total loss. Abby Cameron with the local American Red Cross said the organization is serving six individuals in the wake of the incident, adding that five “had somewhere to go” and were provided with food and clothing.

McIntyre, she said, was provided with a hotel room for two nights, as well as food and clothing.